Vertically stacked condominium units

Abstract

A building structure suitable as a two-unit building module which may be incorporated into a variety of multi-storey commercial or residential buildings. The structure includes two vertically stacked units which each define a respective self-contained space. As a module, the building structure extends downward from a planar ceiling surface which forms the ceiling of an uppermost unit to a planar lower floor surface of the second lower other unit. Together, the pair of stacked units has an overall height equal to two and one-half to three full storeys, and a height selected between twenty-three and thirty-six feet, depending upon the respective building structure (7.5-12 feet). The building module is bordered on each lateral side by load-bearing support pillars or sidewalls which extend the height of the building. An interior dividing bearing wall is positioned within each of the units between the load-bearing sidewalls, and which divide each unit into primary and secondary living areas or spaces. The principal living area of the uppermost unit is positioned directly above and separated from the principal living area of the lower unit by a floor surface which spans between the interior dividing walls and a first one of the sidewalls, and which is located midway between the upper ceiling of the uppermost unit, and the floor surface of the lowermost unit. The remaining secondary area of each unit is defined by the space bordered laterally by the interior dividing wall and second other load-bearing sidewall, with the units divided vertically by two secondary floor surfaces, so as to define three stacked floors of a conventional one-storey height.

I claim:  
     
       1. A building structure including a pair of building units, 
       a first one of said units being spaced vertically above the second other one of said units, said first and second units being laterally defined by a pair of parallel common vertical sidewalls and each said unit further including an interior vertical dividing wall interposed between and oriented generally parallel to said sidewalls,  
       a first generally horizontal ceiling surface spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit,  
       a generally planar horizontal floor construction spaced approximately three floors beneath said ceiling surface, said floor construction spanning between said sidewalls,  
       each of said units further including a principal area bordered laterally by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, and a secondary area bordered laterally by the dividing wall and the second other of said sidewalls,  
       the principal area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the principal area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a first horizontal floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said first floor surface being located approximately half way between said ceiling surface and said floor construction,  
       the secondary area of the first unit being spaced directly above and separated from the secondary living area of the second unit by a second horizontal floor surface being located approximately one floor height from one of said floor construction and said ceiling surface.  
     
     
       2. The building structure of  claim 1  wherein said second horizontal floor surface is spaced approximately one floor height above said floor construction, said first unit further comprising a dividing floor substantially spanning between said dividing wall and said second sidewall, said dividing floor being spaced approximately one-half the distance between said second floor surface and said ceiling surface and separating said secondary area into upper and lower floors. 
     
     
       3. The building structure of  claim 2  wherein said first unit further includes a stair assembly extending from said upper floor to said lower floor, and at least one doorway extending through said dividing wall permitting movement laterally from said primary area into said secondary area. 
     
     
       4. The building structure of  claim 1  wherein said first and second units occupy the uppermost three floors of a condominium or apartment building, and wherein each of said units substantially define a self-contained living space. 
     
     
       5. The building structure of  claim 1  wherein each of said ceiling surface and said floor construction are formed as a poured concrete slab. 
     
     
       6. The building structure of  claim 5  wherein said ceiling surface functions as the floor slab of a further third unit located vertically directly above said first unit. 
     
     
       7. The building structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls and said dividing wall extend substantially from said floor construction to said ceiling surface as load bearing walls. 
     
     
       8. The building structure of  claim 1  further including a hallway extending laterally adjacent a rear portion of said first unit, said rear portion further including an entrance for providing access from said hallway to at least one of the principal and said secondary areas of said first unit. 
     
     
       9. The building structure of  claim 8  wherein windows are provided on a front portion of the principal area of each of said first and second units, said windows extending substantially the vertical height of each principal area. 
     
     
       10. A building construction for an apartment or condominium comprising, 
       a pair of building units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically adjacent to the second other one of said units, each of said first and second units including at opposing lateral ends a vertically extending demising wall, and further including an interior vertical dividing wall interposed between and parallel to said sidewalls,  
       a first generally planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit,  
       a second generally planar horizontal slab spaced approximately 24 to 35 feet vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit  
       each of said units further including a principal living area defined by a first one of said demising walls and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said demising walls,  
       the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically above the principal living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontal first floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first demising wall, said first floor surface being located approximately half way between said first slab and said second slab,  
       the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced above and separated from the secondary living area of the second unit by a horizontal second floor surface, said second floor surface being located approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs from a first one of said first slab and said second slab, and  
       a horizontal third floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said second demising wall, the third floor surface located approximately half way between the second floor surface and the second other one of said first slab and said second slab.  
     
     
       11. The building construction of  claim 10  wherein said second floor surface is spaced approximately one floor height above said second slab, and said third floor surface separates the secondary living area into upper and lower floors. 
     
     
       12. The building construction of  claim 11  wherein said first unit further includes a stair assembly extending from said upper floor to said lower floor, and at least one doorway extending through said dividing wall permitting movement laterally from said primary area into said secondary area. 
     
     
       13. The building construction of  claim 10  wherein said first slab, said second slab and said demising walls are formed as concrete slabs. 
     
     
       14. The building construction of  claim 10  wherein each of said demising walls and said dividing wall are load bearing walls extending continuously substantially the vertical height of the apartment or condominium. 
     
     
       15. An apartment or condominium building module construction comprising, 
       a pair of units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically directly above the second other said unit, said first and second units being laterally defined by a pair of parallel vertically extending sidewalls, and further including an interior vertical dividing wall interposed between and parallel to said sidewalls,  
       a first generally planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit,  
       a second generally planar horizontal slab spaced vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit,  
       each of said units further including a principal living area defined by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said sidewalls,  
       the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the principal living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontally extending principal area floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said principal area floor surface being located approximately half way between said first slab and said second slab,  
       the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced directly above and separated from the secondary living area of the second unit by a horizontally extending secondary floor surface spaced approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs from a selected one of said first slab and said second slab.  
     
     
       16. The building construction of  claim 15  wherein said secondary floor surface is located approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs from said second slab, said first unit further comprising an additional floor surface substantially spanning between said dividing wall and said second sidewall, said additional floor surface being spaced approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs from said first slab, and dividing said secondary living area into upper and lower floors. 
     
     
       17. The building construction of  claim 16  wherein each of said slabs, said sidewalls and said dividing wall are of a poured concrete construction, and said first unit further includes a stair unit providing access between said upper and lower floors. 
     
     
       18. The building construction of  claim 15  wherein said construction occupies the uppermost floors of said condominium or apartment, and the primary living area of each unit has a height of approximately one and one-half storeys. 
     
     
       19. The building construction of  claim 18  wherein said sidewalls and said dividing wall are load-bearing walls extending substantially the vertical height of the building. 
     
     
       20. An apartment or condominium building module construction comprising, 
       a pair of units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically directly above the second other said unit, said first and second units being laterally defined by a pair of parallel vertically extending sidewalls, and further including an interior central dividing wall interposed between and parallel to said sidewalls,  
       a first planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit,  
       a second planar horizontal slab spaced about 2.5 storeys vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit,  
       each of said units further including a principal living area defined laterally by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said sidewalls,  
       the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the secondary living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontally extending principal area floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said principal area floor surface being located approximately 1.5 storeys above said second slab,  
       the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced directly above and separated from the primary living area of the second unit by a horizontally extending secondary floor surface spaced approximately 1.5 storeys below said first slab.  
     
     
       21. The building of  claim 20  wherein said sidewalls and said dividing wall are load-bearing walls extending substantially the vertical height of the building.